Car-coupling



G. W. HUNT.

GAR COUPLING (No Model.)

Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFI CAR COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,955, dated January 20, 1891.

Application filed November 17,1890. Serial No. 3711670: (N0 model.)

,To ctZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vest New Brighton,- in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Gar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

Coupling devices for cars have heretofore been made with swinging knuckles adapted to engage with each other when the cars are pressed toward each other, and these couplings are usually known as the Janney coupler. These couplings are connected to the cars by tailpins, and a certain amount of lateral springing movement is allowed to each coupling within the stirrup that is fastened to the under side of the canplatform, and this lateral motion has to be greater with cars that pass around curves of comparatively short radius, in order that the couplings may remain properly engaged with each other and be free to maintain a straight position between the two tail-pins.

here couplings of this general character are made use of, especially upon cars that run upon curves of short radius, difficulty is experienced in properly coupling the cars by backing or running them together when standing upon a curve,because the tendency of the pressure of one coupling against the other is to throw the couplings into an angular position toward the outer side of the curve, and this prevents the knuckles properly engaging with each other and the parts are liable to be broken or not to couple.

The object of the present invention is to bring the couplings into line with each other when the cars are run together, whether the cars are upon a stnaight track or upon a curved track; and with this object in view the couplerjaws are extended laterally with flat or nearly flat faces. Hence when the cars are run together the pressure of one lateral face against the other swings the couplers laterally and brings them into line, so that the couplers are maintained in their proper position after they are coupled and while the train is being backed, either upon a straight line or around a curve, and the lateral strain heretofore existing that has tended to break or injure the coupling-hooks is entirely avoided.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view representing two of the couplers in the position they occupy when the cars are upon a curve and being run together for coupling and Fig. 2 is'a similar view of the couplers when connected.

The draft-bar or coupler A is pivoted upon the tail-pin B and the 'couplerpasses through the strap or stirrup C, as usual, and this strap or stirrup is sufficiently wide to allow for the requisite swinging movement of the coupler upon the tail-pin, and at the ends of the coupler there are suitable knuckles or hooks D, which engage with each other when the cars are run together. These knuckles or couplers are shown of the character known as the Janney coupler, or they may be hooks or knuckles of any suitable kind which engage with each other, and the head or jaw of each coupler is provided with lateral projecting plates or facesE F, which are in a plane at right angles to a central plane passing through the tail-pin B, and these facesE F are located in such a manner in relation to the knuckles or coupling-hooks D that when such coupling-hooks are engaged with each other the plates E and F are in contact, or

nearly so, and there is always a small amount of looseness or play in the coupling-hooks or knuckles, so that these faces E and F may press flatwise against each other when the train is being backed,or the pressure maybe on the knuckles themselves, and when the cars are being run together for connecting the couplers the plates E and F may strike each other toward either one edge or the other when the couplers are at an inclination horizontally to one another, as in Fig. 1, and the couplers will be swung into line with each other by the pressure upon such faces E F, and this is especiallyadvantageous, as aforesaid, when the cars are upon a curved track at the time they are run together and automatically coupled.

I claim as my invention--- 1. The automatic car-couplerprovided with.

interlocking hooks or knuckles, in oombinawhen pressed together, substantially as set 16 tion with the faces E and F, extending laterforth. ally from the head of the coupler and at right Signed by me this 10th day of November, angles to the center line of such coupler, sub- 1890. stantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the interlocking knuckles or books, of a coupler-bar havinga Witnesses: head with laterally-projecting faces E F, that GEO. T. PINOKNEY, bring the couplers into line with each other I XVILLIAM G. MOTT. 4

onAs. W. HUNT. 

